The Iona College women’s basketball team will be looking to claim its first Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) regular season championship on the final weekend of the season. The Gaels (24-3 overall, 17-1 MAAC) are scheduled to travel to Quinnipiac on Feb. 27 and host Marist on March 2.

A win over Marist, who sits in second place in the conference (only one game behind Iona), would clinch the title for the Maroon & Gold. Should the Gaels lose to the Red Foxes, and the two teams finish tied atop the standings, the Maroon & Gold would win the tiebreaker by virtue of sweeping Fairfield (who is currently in third place); Marist split with the Stags. However, losing both upcoming contests would drop the Gaels to second place.

“We want a MAAC Championship,” junior guard Damika Martinez said. “[We were] that close last year, and it just made us even hungrier.”

In its last four games, Iona defeated Monmouth, Rider, Niagara and Canisius to extend its winning streak to five games and bring the season’s win total to 24. Twenty-four wins matches the most in program history, which was achieved in the 1976-1977 season.

On Feb. 14, the Gaels defeated Monmouth 60-59 at home. After the Hawks seized an early advantage, the Maroon & Gold charged ahead and led by 11 at halftime.

With 9:03 left in the game, Iona held a 54-42 edge. The Gaels went the next nine minutes without a field goal, and the Hawks pulled off a 17-4 run to take a one-point lead. Junior guard Aleesha Powell knocked in a layup with four seconds remaining to end the drought and put the Maroon & Gold on top.

Powell finished with 16 points and 10 assists. Martinez contributed 21 points and grabbed five rebounds. Sophomore forward Joy Adams recorded a double-double with 11 points and 14 boards.

Two days later, Iona avenged its only conference loss of the season by topping Rider 73-66.

The two teams battled for the first 20 minutes, and the largest lead by either squad was four points.

The Gaels scored the first 11 points of the second half and opened up a 44-29 lead (their largest of the game). The Broncs battled back and pulled within four with five and a half minutes to go but did not get any closer.

Martinez set a program record with 46 points. This performance ties the MAAC single game record. Adams posted another double-double with 17 points and 13 rebounds.

“Whenever she’s on, no one can stop her on the floor,” Adams said. “She’s going to keep shooting, and she’s going to keep making them.”

The Maroon & Gold continued its winning ways with a 78-62 win over Niagara at home on Feb. 20. Iona never trailed in the contest, and opened up a 21-point lead in the first half. The largest lead of the game was 25.

The Gaels set a program record by making 16 3-pointers. Sophomore guard Aaliyah Robinson hit six of her nine 3-point attempts and amassed a career-high 20 points. Martinez tallied a game-high 23 points and hit five trifectas, while pulling down six rebounds.

Powell posted 12 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds. Adams finished with six points and 12 rebounds, which halted her double-double streak at 17 straight games.

Iona followed this up with a 69-52 defeat of Canisius two days later. The Gaels and the Golden Griffins remained close throughout the opening period. The Maroon & Gold held a 32-28 advantage at halftime.

The Gaels captured their first double digit lead with 13:21 left in the game, which they maintained for the majority of the final minutes.

Robinson had another fine performance with a team-high 17 points to go along with five rebounds and four assists. Martinez contributed 14 points, six boards and four assists. Senior center Sabrina Jeridore recorded 10 points and nine rebounds (missed a double-double by one board). Adams grabbed a team-high 15 rebounds.

Riding a five-game winning streak, head coach Billi Godsey is pleased with the way the team is maturing and coming together.

“[The players are] playing within themselves and coaching each other,” Godsey said. “[They’re] getting each other in the right spots, sharing the ball.”